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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Olympia

Out of the gate early…

The Legislature won't convene until Jan. 12, but here are some of the things lawmakers are already proposing:
-Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, prompted by recent allegations of sexual misconduct by coaches and teachers, said she'll again push to require school districts to provide information about sexual misconduct when the person applies for work at another district.
She also wants to ban school districts from signing severance agreements that seal such records. A similar proposal died last year.
-Rep. Joyce McDonald, R-Puyallup, said she'll sponsor a bill to require a psychological exam and lie-detector test for all new city-, county- or state law enforcement officers. She said the tests would cost about $250 per person.
"When citizens see the uniform, a gun and a badge, they have a reasonable right to expect that the person holding the position is worth of that trust," McDonald said.
But small jurisdictions often don't check backgrounds thoroughly, she said. She cited the town of Wilkeson, which has been ordered to pay $400,000 to two girls raped in the mid-1990s by a part-time city police officer.

Short takes and breaking news from the Washington Legislature and the state capital.